Augmented Reality arrives with Apple iOS 11

Apple newest operating system for iPhones and iPads introduces changes to its marketplace for third-party software to satisfy app developers and add new so-called augmented reality apps.

Apple’s ARKit technology is one of the features on the company’s iOS 11 that will be released on Sept. 19. The new platform will take “apps beyond the screen” by letting users of the software create AR experiences for mobile devices. iOS 11 will the make the debut of augmented reality apps, or AR, in which digital images float over the real word. Apple has made much of those a capabilities, but an ostensibly minor feature may help AR apps spread: Screen recording. Follow Spotlfie Asia for the latest news and updates.

With augmented reality, people can see digital images overlaid onto the physical world using their smartphones and cameras.

Augmented reality is the less known cousin of virtual reality. VR gets more attention because it completely immerses users in an artificial world and has an obvious attraction for gamers. So far, however, headsets like the Oculus and HoloLens are niche rather than mainstream products. Apple believes AR will be an easier sell because it’s less intrusive. Referring to VR headsets, Cook last year said he thought few people will want to be “enclosed in something.”

“iOS 11 brings augmented reality to hundreds of millions of iOS devices and new professional capabilities improve images in Photos and Camera,” Apple wrote in a news announcement on its website. “Siri is more natural and useful and a redesigned App Store makes it easier to discover apps and games.”